The new marine PC sounds very cool, teak front and all...

I just finished installing a new home theater system in my Baba-30 "Shantih"
complete with
19" widescreen flatpanel display, Phillips 6-speaker surround sound DVD
player, and a Dish Network dish for my 60 channels... I know, I know, not
very sailorly, but as a liveaboard I'll allow myself a few indulgences.
I'll try to post some pics of the installation. I'm most proud of the LCD
cantilever mount that keep the flat-panel on the back of the nav desk when
not in use, and then allows it to extend out for watching TV or movies. And
obviously the system only works while I'm at the dock with 110v service.

On the topic of the AIS system. I dabbled a bit this past summer with
rolling my own system. I was able to use the audio output on the back of my
ICOM VHF radio connected to the audio input (mic in) on my laptop, and
decode the signals on VHF 77 (or 87??? can't remember) using a piece of
software called Shipplotter. I never quite got the system "tuned" to the
point of getting consistent data, but I was getting ocassional lat and longs
in my vicinity. I think I was also getting aircraft data as well. Just
thought I'd mention it for the do-it-yourselfers on the list...

Cheers and I'll post some pics this weekend,

Ken

>From: "Rick Williams" <rwsail35@houston.rr.com>
>Reply-To: baba-l@ballreich.net
>To: "Baba" <baba-l@ballreich.net>
>Subject: [Baba-L] upgrades to Lorac
>Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2007 19:03:51 -0600
>
>Hi all. I thought I would tell you of a new item which I have added to the
>equipment list of Lorac. I contacted Midbay Marine and had a Marine Grade
>computer built. It is wired DC and draws very little power @ 3.2 amps,
>including the 17" monitor. As power use is a huge concern in a Baba 30
>this was a great addition as my Laptop was eating 8.4 amps. The computer is
>in a mini case which has a teak face. The 17" monitor is also teak faced.
>Boris also sold me a GPS puck which acquires below deck very rapidly and is
>powered by a USB port in the computer. I run Seaclear II and have all the
>NOAA charts for the U.S. coast and inland waterways. Also; Boris set me up
>with an AIS receiver, which also connects via a serial port. This tells me
>of shipping traffic which is a great comfort in the Houston Ship Channel.
>The AIS displays the course, size, speed, name and other information about
>the vessel approaching. It also alarms of potential collisions with these
>behemoths. An added bonus is that when the ships are in range, I can radio
>them, as I know their names and can get weather and other information while
>I am offshore. With the monitor mounted at the Nav Station and the use of
>my trusty wireless mouse, I am able to use the computer from the cockpit.
>The computer also plays movies, CD's and links to the stereo so my Daughter
>can play her music from the computer library. I can move the monitor from
>the nav station to the salon area using the bronze mounting bracket which
>was custom built, for the Baba 30, by Midbay marine.
>
>I have a Garmin color chart plotter at the helm of Lorac, but it does not
>compare to the new computer for ease of use or detail.
>
>If any of you are interested in the above items, contact Boris at
>midbaymarine.com. If you would like to see pictures of my computer, click
>on the photo section of his Web site. It is the first 8 pictures. Boris is
>a great guy and will help you with anything you need.
>
>If anyone is curious, I DO NOT work for Midbay Marine nor do I get any form
>of remuneration from them. I just endorse any business which provides a
>great product at a very good price and does not try to force a sale.
>
>Fair winds, blue water.
>Rick & Terry Williams
>S/V Lorac; Baba 30 # 71

-----------------------------------------------------------
Baba Panda and Tashiba Owners Mailing List --
For more info, please check out the FAQ...
http://www.ballreich.net/hypermail/baba-l/faq.html
Received on Thu Jan 4 18:00:10 2007